BATTLESHIPS BLOWN UP

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 2

BATTLESHIPS BLOWN UP

AUSTRIAN'S WAR EXPLOITS News has been received of the death of Luigi Fiedler, the man who helped to blow up two battleships and several smaller craft of the Italian navy during the war (writes Hector C. 5 Bywater, ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ naval correspondent). Fiedler was a prominent member, if not actual head, of the so-called “dynamite squad ” which the Austrian naval staff organised for the purpose of destroying Italian warships. His activities, besides the loss of ships, cost the lives of- several hundred Italian sailorsFiedler himself claimed to have been instrumental in destroying 50,000 tons of Italian warships and auxiliaries, as well as causing further extensive damage to arsenals. The existence of this squad is admitted in official Austrian histories, which make no secret of its sinister activities. lam now in a position to give exclusive details, of I icdlers career. Of partly Italian extraction, ho served as petty officer in the former Austro-Hungarian navy. On his discharge he became an electrical engineer in Vienna, but ho was also an expert' chemist. When Italy declared war in 1915 Fiedler submitted to the Austrian naval command a plan for damaging enemy arsenals and vessels by means of camoullaged bombs. His scheme was approved, and the “dynamite squad” was formed in June, 1915. Originally it comprised six men. all of whom were ex-Austrian sailors, speaking Italian fluently. Under Fiedler’s direction special bombs were made in the arsenal at Pola. Some resembled lumps of coal, others looked like oil drums, tins of paint, and canned foodstuffs. . The Austrian Intelligence Service furnished detailed plans of the principal Italian warships to Fiedler and his men, who were thus able to determine the best positions for planting tneir bombs when a chance came of boarding these, vessels. The next step was to introduce Austrian agents into Italian dockyards. This was not difficult, for among the Austrian naval personnel were men who in speech and appearance would have passed for Italians anywhere. ' Fiedler himself paid several visits to Italy, probably being landed from a submarine or aeroplane at some desolate part of the Adriatic coast.

■ ■ 600 LIVES LOST. On September 27, 1015, the “ dynamite squad ” scored its first big success by destroying the Benedetto Brin, a 13,400-ton battleship, manned by 800 officers and men. While the ship was lying in harbour an explosion took place in one of the lower storerooms and started a raging fire. This spread to the magazines, which blew up, completely wrecking the ship. Over 400 of the crew were killed, A court of inquiry discovered positive evidence of treachery, and it was afterwards admitted by Austrian writers that an infernal machine had been introduced into the ship. Early in 1916 an explosion occurred in an Italian light cruiser at Venice, but no serious damage was caused. While the fire parties were at work they found a bomb in. another compartment of the ship, apparently on -ae point of detonating. It was thrown overboard. On August 2, 1916, Italy lost one of her finest battleships through the operations of Fiedler’s men. This was the new Dreadnought Leonado da Vinci of 22,000 tons and twenty-three knots speed, armed with thirteen 12iu guns. She was on her maiden commission. The disaster' occurred in the inner basin at Taranto while stores were being taken on board. Workmen and porters were continually passing up and down the gangways, and there is no doubt that some of these men were Austrian emissaries who smuggled bombs into the ship. Suddenly there was a muffled explosion, and flames were seen shooting out of the stern. The fire was fought with great courage, but other explosions took place, and finally the magazine went up. ■ The ship capsized and sank, 200 of the crew perishing with her. Evidence at flic subsequent inquiry indicated that at least three bombs had been placed in various parts of the ship. Following this outrage very stringent precautions ■were taken to exclude strangers from Italian ships and dockyards measures which seem to have been effectual, since no further mysterious explosions were reported. Fiedler, however, was not at the end of his resources. In 1917 ho planned a daring raid on one of the Italian submarine bases. A company of Austrian sailors under an officer were to bo secretly landed on the coast at night, and make their way to the base, which lay at some distance from the main port. They were to shoot down anyone who resisted and hurl bombs with quick-actiou fuses into the interior of as many submarines as they could reach. This audacious scheme was actually put into execution. The party landed on the Italian coast on a moonless night, and began a forced march to the submarine base. But the men were so loaded with bombs and weapons that they made slow progress, and dawn found them still a long way from their destination. They were challenged by an Italian patrol, and surrendered without resistance. As they were in Austrian uniform they were treated as ordinary prisoners ot war, though they frankly avowed their desperate purpose. , . , Fiedler is said to have received £5,000 for his services in connection witli the “ dynamite squad.”-